University of Hertfordshire named official partner of Watford FC Trust

Following on from the recent announcement that the University of Hertfordshire is to become the official higher education partner of Watford FC for the 2024-25 season, a further commitment has been made, this time to their shared community through the Club’s official charity Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust.

An official registered charity, the Trust supports people and communities on behalf of Watford Football Club, by engaging people of all ages and backgrounds through high-quality community-based initiatives and services, spanning across health, wellbeing, sports development, facilities and inclusion.

Named as an Official Trust Partner, this includes a financial contribution to the Trust’s ongoing community work. As a self-financing registered charity engaging over 20,000 individuals a year, the Trust relies on the partnerships and donations of organisations and individuals to keep their many activities, projects, and events delivering and engaging those that need them most.

This will also strengthen the relationship between these two Hertfordshire-based institutions, providing greater opportunities for collaboration to benefit local people and students alike. With their shared dedication to the improvement of people’s learning, health, and wellbeing, there is no doubt that this is a partnership that will benefit their communities.

Professor Quintin McKellar CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, said:

“As Hertfordshire’s only university and a leading educator in sports subjects for the East of England, we fully align with Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust’s vision and mission of improving lives and enhancing communities through the power of sport and learning.

“The Trust does a tremendous job of providing a wealth of community activities and initiatives aimed at promoting social inclusion, health and wellbeing, and opportunities for more people to participate in sport. We couldn’t be happier to be supporting such brilliant and important work as their official partner and look forward to working together to develop brighter futures for all.”

Rob Smith, Watford FC Trust Community Director, said:

“Firstly, I’d like to say thank you to the University of Hertfordshire, and those behind the scenes who have made this happen. With the current funding landscape, it is vitally important we are able to build successful partnerships such as this. It is particularly pleasing when proficient institutions in the heartbeat of our community come on board, which the University most certainly is. We look forward to seeing this relationship develop.”

More information about the Watford FC Trust and its work is available online. Explore courses in the University of Hertfordshire’s Institute of Sport and the University's partnership with Watford FC via its website.